"I just wanted to follow-up and share how much my daughter enjoyed the event today. She can't stop talking about it. Thank you again for what you do. This is a fantastic opportunity!"- Parent

Cool Careers in CyberSecurity for Girls Workshop

Through a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant (No. 1204533) the National CyberWatch Center K12 Division continues to offer small presentations and career briefs for individual schools/school districts, in addition to hosting an Annual Cool Careers in CyberSecurity for Girls Workshop. At the Signature Event, a Cyber Crime Scenario is presented to the girls. The attendees are broken up in to small Cyber Security Investigative (CSI) teams of 10 and rotate around different “cyber tables” to gather clues to solve the cyber crime. Each table has a different activity led by a women professional in the field. The girls use the first part of each rotation to gather a clue, and the remainder of the time is used to learn more about the career and how each representative entered the field. Girls find out more about the education skills needed, likes and dislikes and salary range. Activities have included: cryptography, assembling a computer, steganography, penetration testing and cell phone forensics. Further history of the C34G is available.

Central Maryland has been the location for the event since its inception, and has been attended by over 7500 girls in its history. In 2013, funding through the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development has allowed us to replicate the program in three other Maryland areas; Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Southern Maryland.

We partner with non-profits including schools, libraries, higher education institutions and community based organizations to bring Cool Careers in Cybersecurity for Girls Workshops to communities throughout the state. Contact us if you are interested in learning more about hosting a Maryland Event. Click here to learn more about bringing a Cool Careers in Cybersecurity for Girls Workshop to your community. Click here to see examples of past events.

MICHIGAN

WHEN: TBD: Planning stagesWHERE: Detroit Public Schools: YOUR Center/Wayne State University/Wayne County Public SchoolsEVENT:The National CyberWatch Center K-12 Division is excited to partner with YOUR Center/Wayne State University/Wayne County Public Schools to host a Cool Careers in Cyber Security for Girls Workshop: Michigan. Throughout the day, middle school girls will rotate through different hands-on activities, all relating to solving a digital crime scenario. At each station, the girls will learn from female Cybersecurity professionals and leaders, including representatives from prestigious government organizations, defense contractors, and private companies. Activities include cryptography, computer anatomy, steganography, penetration testing, robotics, networking and cell phone forensics. This event is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).WHO: Selected middle schools. Please contact Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

KANSAS

WHEN: TBD: Planning stages WHERE: Kansas City: PREP-KCEVENT:The National CyberWatch Center K-12 Division is excited to partner with PREP-KC to host a Cool Careers in Cyber Security for Girls Workshop: Kansas. Throughout the day, middle school girls will rotate through different hands-on activities, all relating to solving a digital crime scenario. At each station, the girls will learn from female Cybersecurity professionals and leaders, including representatives from prestigious government organizations, defense contractors, and private companies. Activities include cryptography, computer anatomy, steganography, penetration testing, robotics, networking and cell phone forensics. This event is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). WHO: Selected middle schools. Please contact Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

CALIFORNIA

WHEN: TBD: Planning stages WHERE: Rosamond, CA EVENT:The National CyberWatch Center K-12 Division is excited to partner with Southern Kern Unified School District to host a Cool Careers in Cyber Security for Girls Workshop: Kansas. Throughout the day, middle school girls will rotate through different hands-on activities, all relating to solving a digital crime scenario. At each station, the girls will learn from female Cybersecurity professionals and leaders, including representatives from prestigious government organizations, defense contractors, and private companies. Activities include cryptography, computer anatomy, steganography, penetration testing, robotics, networking and cell phone forensics. This event is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). WHO: Selected middle schools. Please contact Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

HAWAII

WHEN: TBD: Planning stages WHERE: Maui, HI EVENT:The National CyberWatch Center K-12 Division is excited to partner with University of Hawaii Maui College t to host a Cool Careers in Cyber Security for Girls Workshop: Kansas. Throughout the day, middle school girls will rotate through different hands-on activities, all relating to solving a digital crime scenario. At each station, the girls will learn from female Cybersecurity professionals and leaders, including representatives from prestigious government organizations, defense contractors, and private companies. Activities include cryptography, computer anatomy, steganography, penetration testing, robotics, networking and cell phone forensics. This event is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). WHO: Selected middle schools. Please contact Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

Ohio

WHEN: January 29, 2015WHERE: Steubenville City Schools EVENT:The National CyberWatch Center K-12 Division is excited to partner with Steubenville City Schools to host a Cool Careers in Cyber Security for Girls Workshop: Ohio. Throughout the day, middle school girls will rotate through different hands-on activities, all relating to solving a medical device hacking case of cybercrime. At each station, the girls will learn from female Cybersecurity professionals and leaders, including representatives from prestigious government organizations, defense contractors, and private companies. Activities include cryptography, computer anatomy, steganography, penetration testing, robotics, networking and cell phone forensics. This event is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).WHO: Selected middle schools. However, we do reserve a few registrations for individuals with interest in attending by themselves or with a few friends. Please contact Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

Eastern Shore Maryland

We are seeking a partner/s to host the event at a location of the Eastern Shore. The majority of the event would be funded by the National CyberWatch Center & the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. If you are interested in learning more please contact
Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

Central Maryland

WHEN: November 12, 2014WHERE: The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, University of Maryland College ParkEVENT: The National CyberWatch Center K-12 Division is excited to partner with the University of Maryland’s Maryland Cybersecurity Center to host a Cool Careers in Cyber Security for Girls Workshop. Throughout the day, middle school girls will rotate through different hands-on activities, all relating to solving a medical device hacking case of cybercrime. At each station, the girls will learn from female Cybersecurity professionals and leaders, including representatives from prestigious government organizations, defense contractors, and private companies. Activities include cryptography, computer anatomy, steganography, penetration testing, robotics, networking and cell phone forensics. This event is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).WHO: Selected middle schools. However, we do reserve a few registrations for individuals with interest in attending by themselves or with a few friends. Please contact Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

Southern Maryland

WHEN: December 3, 2014WHERE: The Center for Business and Industry (BU) Building [rooms BI113/113E] on the College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus EVENT: The National CyberWatch Center K-12 Division is excited to partner with Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development to host a Cool Careers in Cyber Security for Girls Workshop: Southern Maryland. Throughout the day, middle school girls will rotate through different hands-on activities, all relating to solving a medical device hacking case of cybercrime. At each station, the girls will learn from female Cybersecurity professionals and leaders, including representatives from prestigious government organizations, defense contractors, and private companies. Activities include cryptography, computer anatomy, steganography, penetration testing, robotics, networking and cell phone forensics. This event is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).WHO: Selected middle schools. However, we do reserve a few registrations for individuals with interest in attending by themselves or with a few friends. Please contact Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle at dpruitt@edtechpolicy.org.

Cool Careers in Cybersecurity for Girls provides students with the information and skills necessary to navigate the professional pipeline in the vast fields of Cybersecurity, as well as, other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Content presents a cyber crime scenario, and the elite all girl teams use a variety of clues to solve it, while also learning about cyberethics, safety and security, and the plethora of career options in cybersecurity.

C34G partners with schools, libraries, higher education institutions and community-based organizations across the country to replicate the program nationally.

This has actually proved to be a lot easier than one would think. A simple email request for volunteers to local business, faculty and government agencies produces wonderful results. In addition, women IT groups, Chambers of Commerce and state and local Government can help you find a wide range of volunteers. Just make sure you give them plenty of time to recruit. C34G provides templates and examples to help get you started.

Recruiting techniques will vary. Many C34G workshops partner with local middle schools and ask the teachers to select and bring the girls to the location. Sponsors or school fees help cover the cost for school bus transportation. If the event is open to the general audience, we highly recommend online registration. Assume 20% no-show. Recruitment and marketing should be done through a variety of means to include, newspapers, directly with schools/school districts, state departments of education, informal STEM programs etc. C34G provides templates and examples to help get you started.

After welcoming, general introductions, and logistics the girls are presented with a current event but age appropriate Cyber Crime Scenario. The scenario is presented through a short video. Attendees working in small Cyber Security Investigative (CSI) teams of 8-10, rotate around different “cyber tables” to gather clues to solve the cyber crime. Each table has a different hands-on activity led by a women professional in the field. The girls use the first part of each rotation to gather a clue, and the remainder of the time is used to learn more about the career and how each representative entered the field. Girls find out more about the education skills needed, likes and dislikes and salary range. Activities have included: cryptography, assembling a computer, steganography, penetration testing, lock picking password cracking, networking, robotics, and cell phone forensics. A keynote speaker or panelists usually present over lunch. At the end of the event, girls have a chance to solve the crime or discuss how they would deter future events from happening. With an open mic, the girls are eager to ask questions and share.